What is a spatial index?

The spatial index is a methodology used in spatial databases to organize and optimize search results from spatial questions. Spatial databases are naturally more complex than conventional lattice-based databases are basically two-dimensional-because spatial databases have to juggle third dimensions when discussing on relations between objects. Spatial indexing methods act as virtual "crutches", helping computers to understand the unique layout of the world of the spatial database.

Think of a spatial index as a set of rules that helps the computer to organize information in the database. Spatial indices vary depending on the organization method used, such as the grid method or the R-Tree method. No method is necessarily better than others; This is largely a matter of preference depending on what the end user expects from the system. Compare this to the selection of name list, addresses, and phone numbers alphabets and the interaction of the area or someother methodology; The chosen method depends on which is best for the goal and preferences of the end user.

One of the most popular methods for organizing a spatial index is the R-Tree method. The R-Tree method organizes related information in the spatial index by means of something called "minimal bounding rectangle". This organizes a list of data and then identifies the related items by encapsulating them into a rectangle. Continuation of the example of the phone number list from the top, you can draw blocks - or minimal boundaries of rectangles - between telephone numbers for family acquaintances, others for collaborators, etc. The overlap between bounding rectangles occurs when one item belongs to two or more groups; For example, a collaborator who also becomes a relationship.

I assume the assumptions in the bounding of rectangles, the task of determining the spacious relationships between entities are already Napůl accompanied. Therefore, when the end user adds a spatial question, the direction of processing for determining the result is not nearly as cumbersome. All this thanks to the spatial index method, which allows the database to generate a query result for a much shorter time.